SALES of second-hand furniture from social enterprise Top Drawer have plummeted since work began on the regeneration of Sussex Square.

Demolition of the derelict flats around the Walcot development began in earnest earlier this month as part of a long-awaited £10m regeneration plan for the site.

The plans will see 14 shops, 33 houses and flats, a charity shop and library that have made up the district centre since 1958, flattened and replaced with 34 new houses and 14 flats, with parking and landscaping, by 2018.

There will also be a number of retail units on the new site, and the plans leave scope for the library and charity shop to be accommodated.

But while work is under way, the corner of Somerville Road at the corner of Sussex Square has been cut off to through while works take place.

Road closure signs have been put in place along Queen’s Drive and the entrance to Somerville Road, deterring potential customers from visiting the square.

“We’re about 50 per cent down on sales since building on the square began in earnest,” said Stephen Pickering, who leads the volunteers at Top Drawer, which sells second-hand furniture.

It also takes part in the council’s voucher scheme, helping to refurnish homes of those on the lowest incomes.

Stephen said: “We just want to remind everyone we are open for business. I’ve been getting a bit paranoid about it, I keep popping out to see if cars are coming in. They are seeing the signs and turning around.

“It is closed at the top of the road but you can come in as far as the shop and park there.

“There’s also a car park around the back, which people can go to.

“People have driven past and then rung the shop and sounded surprised to hear that we are, in fact, open.”

Stephen said while he thought all the businesses had been affected in some way, the development would be good for the area in the long run.

He said: “It clearly needs the work, I don’t think anyone is disputing that. I just want to remind everyone we are still operating as usual.”

The refurbishment of the area has been long anticipated by residents and businesses, who welcomed the start of the work.

Shortly after work began Peter Mallinson, chairman of the Walcot Charity Shop and Library, said: “The demolition of the flats has been completed now and there is just a flat space now where it used to be.

“In terms of the charity shop and library we’ve just been told that the units to be built on the former Bulldog pub site will be completed by the end of August, meaning we will be able to move in.

“Now we’re just looking forward to moving in.”

Demolition specialists Lawson Group have begun the first phase of work pulling down a block of 18 flats.

Phase two is the demolition of the shops and the flats above, and phase three is the demolition of a building, which requires hand separation.